YAMAHA
DT-1
Yamaha DT-1
- Manufacturer
- YAMAHA
- Model
- DT-1
- Year
- 1968
- Type
- Trail
- Origin
- Japan
01 — Overview
Introduced in 1968, the DT-1 established what Yamaha calls the "trail bike" category at a time when on-road and off-road machines were not clearly distinguished. It was equipped for off-road use, with what was then the longest-stroke front fork on any Japanese model, block-pattern tyres and an engine guard. Engine: air-cooled 246 cm³ two-stroke single.
02 — Historical Context
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
According to Yamaha, it was highly popular in the United States, and in Japan it led to the creation of dedicated trail-riding courses and facilities.
1960s — Business bikes changed daily life while sports models set out for export markets — the decade Japan met the world.
03 — Design
DESIGN
Form, read through detail.
04 — Engine
ENGINE
Single
One cylinder: light, simple and characterful. Found everywhere from commuters to off-road machines and classics. A power stroke every revolution: light, simple and explosive — and, as emissions rules tightened, gradually retired from road machines.General description of the layout
| Engine layout | Single[1] |
|---|---|
| Cycle | Two-stroke[1] |
| Displacement | 246 cc[1] |
| Cooling | Air-cooled[1] |
| Max. power | 13.6 kW / 6,000 rpm[1] |
| Max. power | 18.5 PS / 6,000 rpm[1] |
| Max. torque | 22.6 N·m / 5,000 rpm[1] |
| Max. torque | 2.3 kgf·m / 5,000 rpm[1] |
05 — Specifications
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Every figure is sourced. Unverified values are not published.
06 — Generations
GENERATION HISTORY
DT-11968–
Generations, model years and market variants (Model → Generation → Variant) are added as they are verified.
07 — Cultural Context
CULTURAL CONTEXT
08 — On Film
ON FILM
Quoted from official channels
HeritageYAMAHA2024
DT-1 on the test course
Special edition of the historic-machine demo run held at Yamaha Motor's Fukuroi test course in November 2023 to mark the Communication Plaza's 25th anniversary. Featured: the DT-1.
09 — Gallery
GALLERY
RELATED MOTORCYCLES
10
11 — Sources
SOURCES
- [1]1968 DT-1 - Communication Plaza CollectionYamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · museum · accessed 2026-09-26
- [2]Yamaha Motor History - Product History (Motorcycles / Commuter Vehicles)Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. · manufacturer · accessed 2026-09-26
12 — Image Credits
PHOTO CREDITS
- Creator
- Rainmaker47
- License
- CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Rainmaker47, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Creator
- Mike Schinkel
- License
- CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
- Mike Schinkel, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons